Last night authorities raided apartments across Reykjavík in an effort to get tough on Airbnb hosts who don’t have necessary permits.
Local news site Vísir reports that the police, accompanied by a representative of the Directorate of Internal Revenue (DIR), visited around 50 apartments. Around 80 percent of the landlords were without permits.
When the police came knocking they were greeted in most instances by guests staying in the apartments. However no out-of-towners were sent scrambling for places to stay as the authorities are after the landlords, who are violating the rules.
More “raids” are expected.
As in many other cities around the world some professionals are manipulating the sharing economy by illegally renting their properties all year round.
According to a study published in November last year only a fraction of properties in Reykjavík had been registered with the authorities as being rented to travellers. Only 13% of the properties had been issued necessary permits.
Read more: 4% of all apartments in Reykjavík listed on Airbnb
According to analysis by Íslandsbanki bank one in five foreign visitors in Iceland in 2015 stayed at Airbnb rentals while in Reykjavík.
Last night authorities raided apartments across Reykjavík in an effort to get tough on Airbnb hosts who don’t have necessary permits.
Local news site Vísir reports that the police, accompanied by a representative of the Directorate of Internal Revenue (DIR), visited around 50 apartments. Around 80 percent of the landlords were without permits.
When the police came knocking they were greeted in most instances by guests staying in the apartments. However no out-of-towners were sent scrambling for places to stay as the authorities are after the landlords, who are violating the rules.
More “raids” are expected.
As in many other cities around the world some professionals are manipulating the sharing economy by illegally renting their properties all year round.
According to a study published in November last year only a fraction of properties in Reykjavík had been registered with the authorities as being rented to travellers. Only 13% of the properties had been issued necessary permits.
Read more: 4% of all apartments in Reykjavík listed on Airbnb
According to analysis by Íslandsbanki bank one in five foreign visitors in Iceland in 2015 stayed at Airbnb rentals while in Reykjavík.
